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Jul 23, 2023: Kennebec River, Ballfield to Forks Plantation Takeout

We had beautiful weather for our Kennebec River trip from the Ballfield in West Forks to a takeout in Forks Plantation about five miles downriver.  Held on the second day of the summer picnic, we waited for the 5,000 CFS release to arrive.  John and his friend paddled a tandem canoe and Nancy and Ron solo kayaks.  We were the only hard boats on the river but there were lots of tubers.  It was a very pleasant way to end a busy weekend.

Participants:  John Preble, John’s friend, Ron Chase, and TC Nancy Chase

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Jul 8-9, 2023: Dead River, 1800 and 1300cfs

Thanks to Kyle Duckworth, he sent out an email asking if anybody would like to do the Dead and gave my phone number.

Sat at 1800cfs (which turned out to be 2400-2800cfs): The shuttle turned out bad. Lindsey Feldman went off the road and had to be towed out by a tow truck – 4pm to 9pm the tow truck took her car to Skowhegan, so she was without a car for the next few months. We all felt bad where she volunteered to do the shuttle. Participants: Lindsey Feldman who came up from Baltimore MD (Kayak), Nicole Grohoski (OC), new club member Brandon (OC), Scott Gee and Bud Gilbert (Shredder) TC: Bud Gilbert

Sun at 1300cfs (maybe actually 2000cfs): Andrew McDowell paddled an inflatable kayak. Lindsey Feldman’s kayak helped a lot on rescues. Paul Sarli paddled a Canadian boat which was very tippy, but he conquered it by the end of the day. Great job! TC: Bud Gilbert

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Aug 19, 2023: The Magalloway River, 1200cfs

Bryan and Alyssa Wolf, Jake Bourdeau and Jean Miller (TC)

We had two fine runs of 1200 cfs on the Magalloway River.   A beautiful scenic river that starts with a bang.   This was the first time for Alyssa and Bryan, and the first time in a long time for Jake. No swims just smiles.  We all agreed it was a perfect day.

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Jul 22 and 23, 2023: Dead River, 2400 and 1800cfs

The two trips on the Dead river during the PPCS Summer Picnic were both well attended.  We had over twenty boats on Saturday and 11 on Sunday.  The scheduled releases of 2400 and 1800 cfs were a bit higher than advertised on each day, but we’ve gotten used to “going with the flow” in these circumstances.  We had some swims, starting on the very first rapid on Saturday, but they were all easily managed by the group.  Deft self-rescues or quick assistance from a few boaters kept the drama to a minimum.  This left us to focus our attention on the gorgeous setting, great company, bald eagle sightings, and a river that never disappoints.

Saturday

John Brower TC, Helen Hess, Sue Schaller, Shweta Galway, Steve Fortin, Lynn Meehan, Mason Galway, Will, Ryan and Kria Galway, Kenny DeCoster, Koa Farnsworth, Charlie Berliant, Dan Bennis, Ron Chase, Donna Jean Kaiser, Jules Petot, Kyle Duckworth, Andrea Reising, Allan Fuller , Cath Kimball, Jean Miller, Clyde Mitchell and Jessa Solis, Paul Sarli, Justin Schlawin

Sunday

John Brower TC, Helen Hess , Sue Schaller, Troad Richmond, Allan Fuller, Donna Jean Kaiser, Mark and Ellen Nelson, Scott Nelson and Lynn Hempen and Cam, Kevin McKenzie, Paul Sarli

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Jun 11, 2023: Sebasticook River – Clinton, Mill Park to Benton Falls Dam, carry, on to Kennebec River

The Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society paddled the Sebasticook River
from Clinton to Benton Falls Dam and then from Benton Falls Dam to Fort
Halifax Part (Kennebec River) Sunday. Beautiful day, excellent water
level (3″ below last step at Mill Park), great people, amazing number of
eagles everywhere. There are more eagles (more than 40) on the section
below the dam than anywhere in the continental U.S. per Nate Gray at
Maine Marine Resources.

We had 9 boats and 10 people from Clinton to the Benton Falls Dam and
11 boats and 12 people from the dam to Fort Halifax Park (Kennebec River).

Bruce Weik, Pauline Boyce, Andrew McDowell, Emma McDowell, Ron Chase,
Nancy Chase, Kevin Morrissey, Beth Main, Shawn Main, Karin Eberhardt,
Loren Starcher, Allan Fuller

The eagles are there to eat the alewife (herring) that are migrating
up the Sebastocook River. There have been more than 5 million alewife
that have passed the Benton Falls Dam going up the river so far. That is
the biggest river migration on the whole east coast of the U.S. There
were schools of herring breaking water. They were being driven to the
surface by the stripper bass chasing them. The herring are food for all.
About 20% are netted and sent to Canada in refrigerated trucks to be
canned for human consumption.